As she left, she also took a picture of the hospital and of Xavier getting into his car. Once she was in the car herself, she snapped a selfie inside.

Xavier knew where Vanessa lived; after all, he and lan used to live in the same villa community. Twenty minutes later, Xavier's car pulled up in front of Vanessa's villa.

Xavier got out, opened her door, and silently and coolly motioned for her to get out.

After stepping out of the car, Vanessa looked at him, her gaze laced with a silent invitation. "Xavier, would you like to come in for a bit?"

"No, thank you," Xavier replied curtly.

As he was about to get back into his car, Vanessa suddenly said, "Xavier, what if I told you that I like you?"

Xavier turned to face her. Even with the deep affection in her eyes, he remained unmoved, his gaze holding only a clear, all-knowing coldness.

"I really did like you, but you rejected me back then. I'm well aware of my value to lan—I'm just his mother's donor. If you hadn't rejected me back then, maybe we—"

Xavier cut her off sharply. "There is no possibility of 'us.' I am not a pawn in your game."

With that, Xavier got into his car and sped away.

Vanessa stood there, hugging her arms, feeling a chill run through her. But it was true—she really had liked Xavier.

She had been smitten with him from their very first meeting, but she just couldn't let go of lan.

Xavier's last words made her realize something: for the past ten years, hadn't lan been stringing her along as well?

He would show her just the right amount of tenderness, buy her a limited-edition handbag, and even personally accompany her to a restaurant when she felt weak from frequent blood donations.

But now, looking back, all those seemingly intimate gestures were filled with calculation. He knew her too well, knew what she craved, and he used the lowest- cost methods to keep her willingly participating in their transaction.

He was such a master manipulator! With material gifts and a pathetic sliver of warmth, he had bought the best ten years of her life.

If Xavier had been willing to love her back then, she would have married someone else long ago. She would have seen lan's heartlessness for what was and found a way to end their deal, making him suffer the pain of losing his mother. Then, he would have had to watch as the family he loved was tormented

illness one by one, until finally

Eleanor left him, and he would have become a lonely, isolated man.

This vicious thought surfaced in Vanessa's mind.

But there were no 'what ifs' in this world.

Now that the lab had found a way to replace her, she had not only been cast aside by lan but was still being forced to give blood.

Vanessa opened her phone and posted on her social media: "Had an accident, but luckily I ran into someone kindhearted."

She uploaded all the pictures she had taken and hit post.

The next morning, Eleanor opened her door at exactly seven-thirty. Ian was waiting outside as usual to take their daughter to school.

"Bye, Mommy!" Evelyn was like a fully charged doll, lively and cheerful.

Eleanor smiled and waved back at her. "Be good at school."

"I will!" Evelyn said, then turned and took her father's hand. "Let's go, Daddy!"

Ilan led his skipping daughter away. In the elevator, he took out his phone and sent a text to Eleanor.

"Drive safely."

Eleanor was walking to the dining

table where Joslyn had prepared et

nutritious breakfast for her. She Saw the message and Wanks."

In a hospital room at the lab, Serena Goodwin was having breakfast with her mother when a message came through. "Serena, isn't she your future sister-in-law? Why is she with Xavier?"